02/09/12

Jesse Fischer & Soul CycleHomebrewsoulcyclemusic.com

Brooklyn-based electric pianist Jesse Fischer is the ringleader of a rotating cast of jammers dedicated to party-time grooves and retro jazz-funk-fusion. “Basement Jam” opens with a rocking, handclapping boogaloo riff before morphing into some slam-funk with swirling interplay between the horns. The core sextet is augmented by special guests, including trumpeter Sean Jones on the slow-grooving “K.C. Bounce,” vibraphonist Stefon Harris on the chill-out number, “Natural Light,” turntablist Ty Adams on the hip-hop-influenced “Nuyorican Vibes,” trumpeter Jean Caze on the ambitious drum ’n’ bass-meets-Bobbi Humphrey number “Dark Waters” and vocalist Gretchen Parlato on a soul-jazz interpretation of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”